FRA UK Featherweight Championship 2014 hosted by RoboChallenge

[Garfie489]

Everyone then exits the arena and the drivers only switch on their transmitters shortly before the countdown.

That was the solution i thought of, as in theory all the robots should be tech checked to insure they fail-safe when the transmitter is off, making it theoretically impossible for the robot to misfire.

However some other events require the robot to be live and controlled during the arming process. For example, events which use a loading pen would need the robot to be fully armed, mobile and unlocked in order to enter the arena.

Thus it would need to be a EO specific regulation, and should be set out before the event.

Edit: Heres a video of me arming Dystopia at a Robot Wars event. You can see its impossible to simply turn off the transmitter, so it shouldnt be a general rule but rather just something that should be clarified in the roboteers briefing in future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX5D3b1PS6I

[PJ-27]

Locking bar should render the robot completely safe while live. One marshal removing all locking bars is the safest option since there is only one person in the arena.

[mrsam]

I agree with PJ about the locking bars, i was told off by Kane for removing mine ( i was new i didn't know) and i completely saw his point as there were a few other people in the arena and if Hatchet had gone crazy with the locking bar removed somebody would have gotten hurt.

I'm not sure i agree with turning off transmitters before exiting the arena, it's true all robots should failsafe if the transmitter is turned off but surely there's always the slightest chance that something could go wrong and a robot could become out of control, at least with the transmitter on in your hand it's you that is controlling it. This brings me back to locking bars, if what Gareth said happens and somebody slips/trips or knocks their transmitter by accident the worst that can happen is that the robot moves or the weapon activates but is stopped by the locking bar rather than the locking bar being out when it happens and somebody getting hit with the full force of a weapon. I know that if Hatchet's axe caught somebody it would probably remove something. So to sum up i think the arming up/safety rules are fine as they are, it's worked for the champs this year and for as many years as those rules have been set.

[james...venom]

Thank you all for your comments it's really appreciated and we have lots of things in the pipeline for next year so keep watching back. Regarding locking bars changes will be made to the rules for next year. In Defectors case I had asked on multiple occasions to leave the locking bar in so I can remove them all at the end but this is a separate thing. All locking bars must be kept in to avoid accidental activation of weaponry while people are inside the arena, it's not going to change. Looking time frames we are already in discussions for next year and we will let you know ASAP when the event is confirmed. I think dates may have already been announced for next years gsl so hopefully it gives an indication of when it will be, we just need our confirmation. Fully appreciate this can be a pain for teams so we are working hard to get everything signed off for you.

[Ellis]

Re. locking bars, I think this:

"Exception to the rule is of course robots like Explosion, where you can stand a foot away from it and remove the locking bar, but not every robot has that luxury"

Is the crux. Surely every machine should be made to have that luxury.

--

I really enjoyed this year's event. I loved the extra pit space and the extra time between fights, even though there were more of them. As others have said, the schedule was kept tight and although it wasn't written anywhere exactly, keeping a track on when you fight to within a couple of minutes was quite easy, which made planning repairs etc a lot easier. I'd be very happy if this new format were carried through for future events.

One or two things; like others, I struggled to get a position to watch the fights, and as such had a hard time getting any decent footage. With the entire roboteer group, judges, flight cases w/ trophies on them and a path needed (and reasonably, not debating that) for crew and drivers to pass by, all on one short side of the arena, it was very hard to get a good view (especially when one is as vertically challenged as myself ). Perhaps next year the trophy stand could be elsewhere (on a crowd-side? Good talking point for the commentator) and things reshuffled a bit so that the roboteers can get a good view too. Or perhaps a dedicated filming position somewhere with a clean shot through the polycarb.

Apart from that, the already mentioned clarification of the rules, and a proper meaty vice in the repair zone! :P

Can't wait for next year, thanks to all involved, and to all who helped supply tools, materials, ideas and hands! Roll on 2015!

[Garfie489]

All locking bars must be kept in to avoid accidental activation of weaponry while people are inside the arena, it's not going to change.

I have no problem with this, its just not every arena Marshal was the same. Thus it lead me personally to being confused. Its also the other way round at all other events i have attended (being a heavyweight roboteer aswell), which with this being my first feather event also lead me to being confused.

What i was just arguing is that there should be one clear procedure, and maybe a hybrid of the two to increase safety in some way.

[james...venom]

The trophy holder is actually the control unit for the big screen

Locking bars will be addressed in the rules by the FRA. Best locking bars were Explosion and all of the big nippers robots.

[Revsmin]

Round 1 Highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jXAlZcgTdY

[Mouldy]

James; everything was spot on mate you did great. Apart from my draw, give me an easier one next year lol

Jarvis; awesome vid! you're winning the epic montage competition so far :P

FRA; As stated above - clear clarification of rules for next year please.

Also i think the locking bar idea is the safest way - however whats classed as a locking bar needs further refinement IMO… currently as long as you have something to stop the weapon going its a pass… I think some teams turn up with implements that are less than ideal (aka the G-clamps on spinners and badly fitted locking bars in flippers) - Thats not for discussion here and should have its own thread really.

[Revsmin]

I really enjoyed the event, I had a severe headache and felt well and truly shattered by the Sunday evening, but it was certainly worth it
The pit space was fantastic! I'm used to fighting the next team down for elbow room but this year I had all the room I needed, even found myself running back and forth to get tools littered across our pit space! I like the new take on the immobilisation rules, I always did think that Explosion jumping around for 45 seconds trying to self right should count as immobile :P. The announcement that if you hit the polycarb you're out even if you bounce back into the arena is very welcome from me, it was a concern before the event and I intend to use it next year.

I agree with locking bars being removed by the arena marshall. As much as I like having the locking bar in my hand so I know when I push to flip the flipper will work (or not going by recent events) and not fail because the locking bar was left in by accident, which happened once with Skyfall in 2012 (I had to rush back to the arena to tell Grant it was still in), I think that having it all done by one person minimalises the risk of injury.

One other thing regarding locking bars, I saw there were a few dirty looks at Defectors locking bar that holds the arm up; Personally I prefer locking bars that lock the flipper open so the ram can't touch the arm even when fully extended. I made Skyfall with both options as there was a conversation about it here at the time, but Flow doesn't have enough baseplate for the bar to sit on and fighting the extremely tight bungees is a fight I will lose :P. I've seen some locking bars and thought 'that'll never hold if it does go off', whereas held up above the ram if it does go off, no 2kg Hardox arm is going to launch itself up at the arena marshalls head.

Seeing how well the Beautys performed this year has prompted me to develop the new robot for next year to having interchangeable front ends, one specially for Beauty :3. I'll probably get a build diary up soon, this one is to replace the now retired Ricochet, who has fallen foul of old age.

[Team Invade]

I like the new take on the immobilisation rules, I always did think that Explosion jumping around for 45 seconds trying to self right should count as immobile :P.

I don't recall this ever being classed as immobile by the rules or how they have changed to affect this.

[Revsmin]

I don't recall this ever being classed as immobile by the rules or how they have changed to affect this.

Weren't you counted out vs Drumroll while doing this?

[Team Invade]

No. In the fight against Drumroll Explosion got stuck with its flipper open (again). The confusion in that fight was because it could be argued (either way) with regards to the mobility of Drumroll from the beginning of the fight. I think most people thought it was ambiguous and that's the reason the judges deemed it necessary to clarify the rules in the case of losing drive on one side the next morning.


In the fight before that against Little Hitter before that Explosion was stuck upside down for a couple of seconds before the flipper closed and thinking it may be stuck open, the judges started the count. When it began to self right I believe they tried to stop the immobilisation count, but it did not stop, hence the "Elimination" call half way through self righting. That confused us at the time as well

[JamesDavies]

Any videos up get of anything past round one?

[Garfie489]

I have Defectors fights up until the Semi Final (where Jarvis recorded in 4K instead, so waiting for his to upload).

Battle for last place in the semi final

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULNenmE__lw

Defector vs 720

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nca_0eGATVo

Defector vs Satanix 1.666

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9DHu2mVOg0

Defector vs Galactus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RthC1hEXzKk

Defector vs Wedgie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXCInfJ15D8

I also lastly have 720 vs Conker - as Jarvis wanted to use my phone for this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GpNhTz5zVQ